Teen Cutting is on the Rise!

Found out that your teen is cutting?

Not sure of the signs of teen cutting?

Is your teen experiencing depression and sadness?

Teen cutting is on the rise and sadly something that’s on the increase. I have clients coming to see me for this self-harming phenomenon.

Most of these teens have Teen Depression and Anxiety, just some of the emotion’s they connect to are darkness, heaviness, self hate, self worthless, anger, betrayal, screw-ups, loveless, frighten, scared and unknowing of life.

In saying this they are aware of themselves picking up the object that they will be using to cut them with and are aware of the place that they will be cutting themselves.

So, are these teens loved? Yes

Do these teens get attention? Yes

So why the cutting you maybe thinking to yourself?

It’s a mindset that they have installed, like a program and getting them out of that program is what I start helping them with.

Signs to look for.

There are scars, fresh cuts, bruises

Excessive rubbing of an area

Wearing long sleeve pants/tops even on hot days

Statements of hopelessness and worthlessness

Starting to be interested in people cutting

Asking questions about emotional struggles

The steps to do when you realise they’re doing this.

Suggest them to talk to someone they trust, such as a friend, loved one, family member or a trusted adult

Don’t yell at the teen, make threats or accusations but do express concern

Being there for them even if it’s just in silence

Guiding them to positive websites to help understand why they might be cutting

How do I help them?

For one, I am their first contact when that awareness comes in to start cutting. Once the call has happened we talk about what might have triggered the emotion that made them want to cut in the first place. Most of the time it’s just them not knowing how to deal with that emotion, like an overload in the program that they set themselves.

Teenage cutters that come to Life Balancing Clinic start, normally, a program of 8 weeks, it can be 12 weeks just depends on the teen depression and how deep it is. I see them once a week for an hour and they have contact with me whenever they need via phone calls or texting throughout the whole program.

So don’t just think of it as a phase or a way of gaining more attention. These teens are calling out for help, and whatever you choose to help them with. The best course is to take action.